By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Maulana Syed Muhammed Wali Rahmani, Secretary of All India Muslim Personal Board, has again emphatically reiterated that religion can be 100 per cent basis for providing reservations. He asked the government to get a resolution on Muslim reservation passed in the Parliament instead of playing with the issue.
Maulana Rahmani was delivering his inaugural speech at the National Imam Convention for Muslim Reservation here on Tuesday. “It is totally misleading to say that the constitution does not allow reservation on the basis of religion. The reservation was based on the religion when it was introduced for SCs, STs and other Backward classes and even now when it is proposed for Muslims”, the Maulana opined.
“The matter is clear and free from any ambiguity. If the Government is really serious about granting reservation to Muslims as it claims, then it should move a resolution and get it passed in the Parliament”, he stressed.
To buttress his point, Maulana Rahmani recalled how to assuage the apprehensions raised by few Labour Party leaders in Britain, Sardar Patel in the Constituent Assembly before independence mooted the idea of reservation for Muslims.
“The concept of reservation when it was introduced initially was for the Muslims to safeguard their interests in India after the partition and it was mooted by Sardar Patel in the Constituent Assembly in reply to the apprehensions raised by a Labour Party leader in Britain”, he said.
However, he added: “After the Muslim leaders during those times relying on the promises made by Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel declined to accept the reservation for Muslims, it was introduced for SCs, STs and other Backward classes.”
Arguing that the basis of the reservation in its present form is also the religion, he said, “If a person from SC or ST converts from Hinduism to Islam, he will not be eligible for reservation unless he reconverts to his or her previous religion. This shows that reservation even today is based on religion.”
Maulana Rahmani exhorted Imams to guide Ummah not only in religious affairs but also worldly matters. For this they should be well aware of the developments in the ever changing world so that they could make Muslims aware through “Juma Khutba” (Friday sermons).
Earlier, Maulana Usman Baig, president All India Imams Council, while delivering his presidential speech threw light in detail over the role the Imams should have in society. The Imams should not limit themselves in leading five time prayers in Masjids alone but should broaden their vision to lead the Muslim Ummah to lead a better life in the world Hereafter only but also in the present world to lead a life of dignity. The All India Imam Council is a platform wherein Imams will be made to recognize their role in society and their responsibilities which they have towards the Muslim Ummah as a whole. They will have to change their mindsets and realize their own importance to transform the life of Muslim in particular and common man at large.
At the end of the National Imam Convention for Muslim Reservation, a declaration strongly demanded immediate implementation of 10 per cent reservation to all Muslims in Central Government services and educational institutions. The convention also demanded that a quota or reservation to Muslims be declared in all states in proportion to the percentage of Muslim population there.
This convention which represented all states of India declared that the Ulema and Masjid Imams throughout the country will lead the Muslim community in its democratic struggles till the demand for reservation is fulfilled.
The findings of Sachar Committee and recommendations of Ranganath Misra Commission have together made it the responsibility of the Central Government to declare reservation to all Muslims at the national level, the New Delhi Declaration pointed out.
The New Delhi Declaration noted that in Kerala and Karnataka all Muslims without any distinction at present enjoy reservation both in recruitment to state government services and also in admission at all levels of education. There are no impediments in providing reservation to Muslim community on the basis of their social and educational backwardness. It is very unfortunate that certain vested interest groups oppose the very idea of reservation to Muslims raising certain flimsy arguments. And even secular and backward class political parties adopt a lukewarm attitude to this vital issue of social justice, the Declaration said.
Hafiz Manzoor Ali Khan, Rajasthan unit Vice President, read out the New Delhi Declaration which was unanimously approved by the assemblage through voice vote. Thereafter Hafiz Manzoor handed over a copy of the New Delhi Declaration to Congress Member of Parliament Oscar Fernandez to get it implemented by his UPA Government. Later on he handed over a copy of the Declaration to Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav to do his bit in getting 10 per cent reservation to Muslims as recommended by the Ranganath Misra Commission report
While four resolutions namely on Babri Masjid, bomb blasts in India since 1992, 2011 Census and protection of Waqf properties were passed on the occasion.
Mufti Muhammed Mukarrum Ahmed, Shahi Imam, Fatehpuri Masjid, who was the chief guest on the occasion, inaugurated the website of All India Imams Council.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav coming at the fag end of the function recalled his apology to Muslims on Babri Masjid issue and said he has never worked against the interests of Muslims. He assured to work shoulder to shoulder with Muslims for their cause in future also.
E. M. Abdurahman, Chairman – Popular Front of India, speaking on the occasion said reservation is a social problem. Sachchar Committee has rightly diagnosed the problem of Muslim community and Ranganath Misra Commission has prescribed the remedy. Reservation is not a favour or charity but a right which can be achieved through continuous struggle and in this it is the responsibility of Ulema and Imams to mobilize Muslim Ummah to strive hard to get it. No right can be achieved without putting in efforts and struggle for it, he added.
E. Abubacker, president, Social Democratic Party of India, said Muslims are on the back-foot in every field and as such it is the responsibility of Imams and Ulema to come forward to uplift the Muslim Ummah from the quagmire of illiteracy, poverty and all round backwardness.
“Hum Sablogon Ko Ab Tamashai Bankar Nahin Baithna Hai Balke Kam Karne Ke Liye Aage Aana Hai Aur Qaum Ko Uska Huq Dilana Hai”, Abubacker said.
The other guest speakers on the occasion were Oscar Fernandez, MP (Congress Party); Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan; Editor–Milli Gazette; and Izhar Masarrat Yazdani.
At the outset Hafiz Manzoor Ali Khan gave a brief introduction of All India Imam council’s activities. The vote of thanks was proposed by Maulana Jameel Shahabi, general secretary–All India Imams Council. Hafiz Asrar Falahi conducted the proceedings. ([email protected])